Charge: Man shoots at halllucinations, endangers neighbors

Child, 2, endangered missed in Kent shooting

Published 10:23 pm, Thursday, December 20, 2012

A Kent man, delusional after suffering from a brain tumor, is now accused of nearly shooting his neighbors after he opened fire on hallucinations inside his apartment.

King County prosecutors contend Anthony Seraile Sr. fired at least three rounds from a high-power hunting rifle, endangering his neighbors in the Sterling Ridge Apartments in the 11300 block of Southeast Kent Kangley Road. One rifle round blew through a sliding door and narrowly missed two people; a 2-year-old child also was in the line of fire.

Seraile, 55, previously told family members he sold his weapons after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor that impaired his perception, Deputy Prosecutor Greta Jibbensmith said in court documents. Instead, the prosecutor continued, Seraile kept the gun and used it to defend himself against non-existent intruders.

“The defendant is mentally unstable,” Jibbensmith said in court documents. “He indicated that he was shooting at multiple people who he believed were entering his apartment, despite him knowing that at least two of these people were imaginary. …

“Given the defendant’s drug use, ongoing hallucinations, access to guns, lying about his access to guns, and willingness to react violently and dangerously to his hallucinations, the community is at an extreme danger if the defendant is released.”

At 10 p.m. on Dec. 12, Kent police were called to the complex following multiple reports of gunfire there.

After contacting the residents whose apartment had been shot up, investigators traced the source of the gunfire to Seraile’s apartment, a Kent detective told the court. Officers then surrounded the apartment and ultimately were able to encourage Seraile to come outside unarmed.

Speaking with police, Seraile said five people were trying to break into his apartment, the detective continued. Three of these people were real, Seraile allegedly continued, while two were in his mind.

Officer seized a 30-06 rifle from the apartment. Bullets matching the bolt-action rifle were recovered from the alleged victims’ apartment.

Arrested at the scene, Seraile told police he shot at a hand he saw on his kitchen window and then fired twice more at hallucinations inside his apartment, the detective told the court. According to charging documents, Seraile spoke to non-existent people during the interview with police.

Seraile told police he underwent surgery for a brain tumor two years ago and is under medication. He also purportedly told police he was using cocaine prior to the shooting.

Seraile has been charged with second-degree assault. He remains jailed on $100,000 bail.